The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1887-10-06

about $4.oU per caplLd.
The state expenditure of the small
states of New Hampshire and Yer
mont, with less than four hundred
thousand people each, is very near
$l.25 per capita and the taxes for
state purposes upon the property Of
their people is fifty cents per capita in
round numbers. r.
These comparisons ought to be suf-
fcient for our purpose, which is simply
to show that a large, populous and
wealthy state has no advantage what
ever in the matter of state taxes and
expenditures, over a small one. And
it proves also that there is nothing
whatever in the argument that two
state governments. are necessarily
more expensive than one.
1t is a fact, which cannot be contra
dicted, that the nearer, closer, more
intimate the people are to the seat OF
governmental power, to their officers
to those who administer the laws,
the more economical and better will
their affairs be managed.
do not understand how anyone can
urge that it is for the best interest of
our people to be admitted as one state.
Congress has now commenced the
work OF, controlling railways and cor
porations. Very soon the question of
capital and labor must also be govern
ed largely by laws enacted by the same
body. There are the two questions of
tariff and internal revenue. These ques-
tions combined are of vast importance
to us. Their Importance to our child
rem who are to live in Dakota will be
beyond computation.
The basis of wealth of our future
state or states will be agriculture.
The great corporations, n'anufactur-
ing interests and moneyed power gen.
orally, in fact the capital OF our coun-
try, in consequence of the small states
where these interests largely exist, are
represented and protected in that most
important branch of congress, the Unit
ed States senate, which is said to be the
great balance wheel of the govern
the west and south-Texas in fact-are
calling for further legislation upon the
subject of tariff, taxation and inter-
state commerce. The products of the
farm, factory, loom and shop must now
run the gauntlet of interstate COM
merce laws. restrictions and rules i'm
posed by capital, labor, boards of trade
and bucket shops. Everything that is
comes within some general legislation
1t is useless to say that the interests
Of prnfaafa1
by representatives in the lower house
of congress alone.
Is there any one so foolish as to be-
lieve that the identity in interest be-
tween twelve of our smaller states, with
their twenty-four senators, has no in
fluence in shaping legislation, through
the senate, in the interests of those
people and their industries? There is
really no chance forargument about
this. There can be but one answer to
the question. -..
If the legislative powers of congress
are to be extended and embrace not
only the tariff, internal revenue and
taxation, interstate commerce and
transportation, but also capital, labor
and even prohibition, which will GER
tainly be attempted, then in the name
of reason and good government why
should not Dakota be properly repre-
sented in the most important branch of
congress. the senate? Every one of
these subjects Of legislation directly
affect our people, and yet our children
will live to see, if we are not divided,
a country larger than Iowa and Mime
sofa combined, with as many people as
both of those states, but with half a
representation in the upper branch of
congress.
1t seems to me that our experience as
a people, since the foundation of the
government, has taught us. that the
views of the Fathers" in the forma-
tion and admission of new states is the
correct one. That they should be COM
pact in form, of medium size, having
regard to their adaptability for sustain
ing sufficient population, that there
by, so far as geographical boundaries
are concerned, the greatest and best in
terests of its people are secured in the
matter of an economical state govern
ment and proper and sufficient repre-
in both branches of congress.
O.S. CLIFFORD.
Canton, Dakota, October 6, 1887.